Walking on top of the world

This weekend, Anna had a real walking breakthrough. Up until now, she's been walking a few steps here and there, and she would walk a little bit holding onto our hands around the house. Mostly, though, she still prefered her scooting method to get around.

Sunday, Kurt drove us up into the mountains to escape the city and see the leaves start changing. We stopped at Wilkerson Pass to look around at the view and enjoy the fresh, (though thin, at 9800 feet), air. I took Anna out of the car, and she struggled to get put down, so I set her on her feet and took her hand.

And she walked. And walked. And walked some more. Every time we thought she'd stop, she was just changing directions or looking at flowers. She walked all around the visitor's center, over all the paths, and around all the lookouts. Finally, after about a half and hour, we had to stop because I was getting a headache from the altitude.

She resisted. With vigor. "More walking! Wait! Wait! WAIT!"

The experience was a big moment, because it was the first time it seemed to click for her that walking was FUN and interesting and GOOD. It was also emotional for Kurt and I because we've been watching our friends with babies walk around holding their children's hand for a year, while we still carry Anna. We finally had a moment, as a family, of walking together, holdin hands, through the mountains. It was a perfect day.

And of course, we were too busy enjoying the moment to get any good pictures, though I think Kurt did manage to take one or two. I'll try to post those later.

Today, Anna and I went for a walk down to the end of our cul-de-sac and back. The biggest problem I have with her now is that she doesn't want to stop walking, even though she's stumbling and her legs and starting to give and she's exhausted. I've gotten around the fear of falling for her by saying, "Bonk-a-doop!" every time she goes down. For some unknown reason, she finds this completely hysterical. Who knows?

Anna is officially a toddler! Bonk-a-doop!